The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no universally-fit-all coffee machine. This is why we've compiled our top picks for the home, from a fully automated that grinds and packs your beans to a semiautomatic that gives you the best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch is the perfect blend between automation and needing to be able to master the art of espresso-making. It's our top choice for a coffee-to-cup machine.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento makes a great choice for those looking to make espresso at home without sacrificing quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was specifically designed for people with little counter space. It is built to last and has excellent quality and a compact footprint. It comes with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group head so you can steam milk and brew espresso at the same time.
The machine looks stunning too, and comes with a round side panel insert with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is an upgrade to Rocket's original design, which is already impressive for a compact appliance. It also includes an black pressure gauge that indicates when the boiler is ready to use.
The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this machine than other models. You'll need be extra cautious when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially true when you are using it often. This is a natural tradeoff for less footprint, however this is not a problem that is unique to this model.
This machine is able to handle the demands of your coffee. However, we would recommend investing in a quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante, for greater consistency and flavor. You can also use this machine in conjunction with the Rocket portafilter to help improve the process of tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, makes excellent drinks and is easy to create Latte arts. However, it's worth noting that the machine was not designed for beginners and has some learning curve for those upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchanger is tricky to handle and you'll have to learn how to do cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento provide the option of connecting to a water supply which means you'll always have fresh, cold water that has been filtered for your drinks. The latter has a smaller 2.25-liter tank that can be difficult to refill.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's highest standards. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, which allows you to prepare your first cup of coffee in just 35 seconds. The tank can be easily refilled with ease, since the lid can be removed to create the large hole. It can be filled using tap water, depending on what you prefer.
This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still packs a punch. It's priced at less than PS100 at full price which is less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. The Jolie is a great option for those who do not have the space or funds for an espresso machine of the traditional type however still want to enjoy an authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely simple to use and takes up very little counter space. You just need to press a single button to activate the machine, and then press it again to begin dispensing your chosen brew. There's a backlight that's on the button to ensure that you can clearly see how much has been dispensed, and you can manually stop the process if you prefer to drink your drink in smaller portions.
This model does not come with a steam wand but you can add some creamy froth to your milk using an optional milk frother. It's also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen work space.
The pods are not expensive, but they are available in a wide range of blends that will suit anyone from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are sold in most supermarkets alongside regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods online.
The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule that has an integrated milk warmer. It comes in a box with a 75cm power cord and plug along with a quick-guide as well as a warranty sheet and a tester box of nine Lavazza pods: six roasted (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine itself is small enough to be able to be stowed on the floor or placed under the cabinet.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance at first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso maker that's beyond the budget of most average consumers. If you're willing to take the time to master its use this is a fantastic espresso maker for home use that performs better than some of the more expensive models on the market. It's the most affordable in its class, and it's especially good for novices who do not have an espresso maker yet, which could set them back another $100 or more.
This model is priced below the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199), but is still an excellent option for baristas working on a tight budget. It's loaded with customizable features, and even an integrated burr mill, which makes it more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine, which means it can only handle one thing at a time.
Breville, relatively new to the market for espresso machines, has rapidly earned a reputation for its high-quality appliances. This machine is no different, and it has just enough control to let new baristas improve their abilities without spending more than is necessary.
The unit does not come without its quirks. One example is that the hopper on this model is placed on the side of the unit, instead of on top--which isn't a huge deal, but it can be difficult to disperse multiple shots at a time. It's also not very easy to see the amount of water left in the tank, due to its rear placement.
If you're willing to learn how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an excellent, all-purpose appliance for any home espresso lover. The only downside is the cost, which can be a turnoff for certain buyers. For those looking for a lower-cost alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are comparable in their capabilities and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost a fraction of the price.
4. OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech smart coffee machine with a user-friendly interface that makes great coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add a stylish design to your kitchen. It has one dial to set the number of cups you would like to make. It comes with two cup settings as well as a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing method is similar to pour-over brewing, which coffee enthusiasts believe makes the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature, and then poured evenly over the coffee grounds with a shower head. The brewed coffee then collects in the thermal, double-walled carafe for upto 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour function lets you to take the carafe out while brewing and fill your cup. The machine pauses the brewing process, and displays an red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. It then resumes brewing.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker comes SCAA certified, which means it meets the organization’s strict standards for technical quality. The brew cycles are the same as the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it gives you more control over temperature and brewing time.
In our tests in our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent pot of drip coffee that filled the carafe filled in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a little more than the time that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster calls for, but it is within the range of time that coffee experts recommend to make a good cup.
It is also necessary to grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can make use of a manual coffee grinder or choose a more automated model like the Baratza Encore, which has different grind settings and an hopper that can hold whole beans.
The only downside to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a concern for some users. The stainless steel is easy to clean by hand, though. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek style and user-friendly interface make it one of read more the top contenders among top drip coffee makers.